THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP
Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. —Luke 15:3-7
THE PARABLE OF THE LOST COIN
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” —Luke 15:8-10
THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SON
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” —Luke 15:11-32
In the Parable of the Lost Sheep, the lost sheep symbolizes the times when we seem to lose sense of direction in life.
In the Parable of the Lost Coin, the lost coin symbolizes the times when we feel a loss of identity, security, or value.
In the Parable of the Lost Son, the lost son symbolizes the times when we find ourselves far from where we once were and where we want to be.
Jesus is trying to change the way we think and feel about “lost-ness,” especially when the one that’s lost is us.
No matter what kind of lost we are or how far we’ve wandered, God’s love for us never gives up. God always seeks and finds us.
The question is not, “Are we going to get lost?” The question is, “When we get lost, where will God be and what will God be doing?”
Here’s Jesus answer: God will be right there with you, doing whatever it takes to reach you, to help you, and to lead you out of your lost-ness.
A PRAYER FROM THOMAS MERTON
My Lord God, I don’t know where I’m going. I can’t see what’s ahead of me. I don’t know for sure how things will turn out. I don’t even fully understand myself, and just because I think I’m following your will doesn’t mean I actually am. But I believe that wanting to make you happy does make you happy. And I hope I always want to please you in everything I do. I hope I never do anything without that desire. And I trust that if I do this, you will guide me down the right path, even if I don’t realize it. So I will always trust you, even if I feel lost or afraid. I won’t be scared, because you are always with me, and you’ll never leave me to face my troubles alone.
WANT TO TURN YOUR HEART TOWARD JESUS TODAY?
The really good news is that our standing with God isn’t based on the quality of our decisions, because we’ve all decided to do things that are wrong and sinful, and we’ve all been lost, many times. Thanks to Jesus, our standing with God is based on the goodness of God. He loves you so much that he sent Jesus, his only Son, who was perfect in every way, who died for the forgiveness of our sins. God raised him from the dead, and our response is to simply turn toward Jesus. If you want to make that decision today, pray with us:
Dear God, I come to You today because I’ve been feeling lost—whether it’s in my purpose, my relationships, or my faith. But today, I open my heart to You, knowing You’ve been looking for me all along. Please guide me back to where I belong, close to You. Help me trust Your love and walk in Your light. Thank You for never giving up on me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.